| Just begining to get worried... 09:28 - Jul 21 with 3714 views | danehoop |
I was just thinking how since that wonderful day at Wembley things have started to rapidly fall away. Leaving the stadium after Zamora has scored "that goal" and walking back and chatting away with so many fellow fans on the way home was probably one of my highest points in 30 odd years of going to watch us.
Over the last few weeks though that sudden buzz of optimism has really left me, replaced with trepidation over preparations for the coming season and sudden u-turn on things like the training ground.
I expected us to be marginally active on the transfer front, perhaps 3-4 players coming in, younger hungrier players in the main with a more experienced pro perhaps. I was expecting a few to leave us, the one we already expected, but generally it was about keeping the core together that got us there and adding Steve Black. We seemed to have got someway there, but the worrying lack of younger players hasn't happened and doesnt look to be on the horizon anytime soon. Instead we seem to have reverted to type and signed aging superstars from Manchester on the slow drag down. Hopefully Rio will prove me wrong, but we do seem to have got our merchandising clothes horse in early this year.
The big irritation is the training ground though. WTF is that all about? How can sensible investment for the future, where the legal challenge from a bunch of NIMBYs has already been defeated suddenly be a questionable investment? We don't need facilities like Southampton or Tottenham? Really? Because our facilities are already so good and our youth and development process is already that strong that we have produced so many good youngsters? Er no.
So from such a promising position in May to where we are now, what has changed? OK, we are expecting some kind of move on FIFA's ensure that the rich clubs remain unchallenged and rich initiative (called amusingly "financial fair play"). You can take a fair bet that because we are QPR our fine will be higher than Man City or PS, despite the obsencity of spend in both and despite our books now looking a great deal healthier after so many departures over the past year. But that was factored into the calculations wasnt it? I mean these are astute business people after all, they told as much.
Oh hold on, they also told us about Warren Farm and having learned the lesson of the past on transfers regards bringing in signings who had long term value.
So why the sudden change of tack, with little coming in? Well it could be attempting to stick to a sensible transfer policy is making it trickier to sign who we'd ideally want. It could also be that there is a dearth of value players who want to join us. It could also be that our scouting network isnt that good and we arent looking at lower league potential. Or it could be that Harry and Tony are just not seeing eye to eye on who could and should be acquired so that stalemate means nothing will happen until the end of the window (like always with Harry to be fair).
There is though another possibility, whisper it quietly, that the root cause of all evil (money) is suddenly in short supply. Tony's abandoning of his Caterham F1 team is interesting. F1 is a rich mans thing and if you're are outside the top 5 teams without a decent powerbase relationship with an engine supplier, then development costs are expensive. With the proposed budegtary cap not happening, despite the best intentions of Bernie (hah!) then the gap between the teams extended not shrunk. Rumour was that Tony got a good deal for Caterham, but that probably didnt cover what has been spent since his involvement and the team are arguably no further forward.
Add to that the impending fine under Fifa's Not Financial Fair Play and the anticipated revenue for QPR next year and the TV money isnt quite looking as good as it first looked. Sponsorship income hasnt exactly been rolling in a la Man Utd either.
The other underlying question is where the bankroll for QPRs current financial debt has been met from? Again we know that Tony and his company have pumped in cash and the assumption is that the Mittals have as well. That has been fine to a point, but relies on Tony's company thriving and not overstretching itself andhis airline being a dominant player in a thriving asian aviation market. But there has been recent bid announcements on expanding into India (notoriously difficult market) and Japan (see India). Both are high risk ventures where Tony has tried and not made it before. Each requires investment.
The new stadium (if it ever happens) is also interesting as the plain sailing on that looks a bit choppy now as well, with former "QPR through and through" sponsors Cargiant taking a decidely dim view on their property suddenly being available. Now the kicker is that is where the long term value is for Tony and his partners is in this. They can make a major property deal which could finance the companies fortunes for the next 20 years if the investment comes off. If that is in doubt, then it doesnt quite look as attractive an investment in QPR that it once did.
So with added pressure on company cash flow, reduced income from TV money and the property deal looking less concrete than it once did, you just start to wonder if financial reality is starting to bite.
All just utter speculation. Wonder if others share same concerns though. |  |
| Never knowingly understood |
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| Just begining to get worried... on 19:06 - Jul 21 with 875 views | DylanP |
Dan, QPR fans are always worrying and complaining; and often that worrying and complaining is waaay too early. Look at what's going on at the club and it almost matches exactly with what you were looking for after Wembley; bring in an old hand, check; bring back the core of the team that got us promoted, check; add hungry youngsters to the squad, check (look at the team touring Germany), etc. Yes, we all know we need a new striker, but we also all know that it is unlikely that we will sign a highly rated striker early in the close season; highly-rated strikers are simply too sought after to go early. The training ground stuff borders on worrying, but it is early days and nothing has been decided there, so best to give it to to run its course. |  |
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| Just begining to get worried... on 21:44 - Jul 21 with 795 views | CHUBBS |
Also concur with Bluce,excellent post mate.
If your gonna waste your short life worrying about the football team you follow not living up to your expectations you need to have a serious word with yourself.
Remember the millions of people who are being slaughtered around the world in the name of peace/religion and that might put Rangers current situation into perspective. |  | | |
| Just begining to get worried... on 21:56 - Jul 21 with 771 views | thehat |
In the last few seasons we have been in administration, had guns in the boardroom, lost young talented players in tragic circumstances, got bought by billionaires, Had Paul Hart as manager, Got promoted as champions, Stayed up on the last day in the most dramatic of circumstances, Got relegated, Won promotion at Wembley with virtually the last kick of the game....
What more do we want from a £30.00 ticket.
I love it - Let the show roll on you never know whats coming next.... |  | | |
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